GROOMING SECRET FOR MEN

Today I was just thinking what to post for this grooming blog and vetting through all my favourite bookmarks online, I following tags just hit me factually.

FACT: Men want to know what to do to look their best but don’t know who to ask or where to find out.

FACT: Men want to find out about grooming tips they can do from home that are proven to produce positive results.

FACT: When you do what you can to look your best, you feel your best, and when you feel your best you are more confident, sexier, and have higher self-esteem.

FACT: When you look your best, you make a great first impression, and that’s worth its weight in gold.

And through some clicks, I landed on an interview with the author of the "GROOMING SECRET FOR MEN", David Scott Bartky. He is a self-made expert by trying the products himself as a guinea pig.

Interesting and hence, I just copied it to share with you.

Question. When did you become interested in men's grooming?

Answer. I have been interested in men's grooming since I was a teenager.

Q. What is your background in grooming and do you have any formal qualifications to enable you to advise men on grooming?

A. My background in grooming stems from about 20 years of studying and researching both the technical and practical aspects of such areas like skin care, shaving, exercise and diet. I also continuously use myself as a "guinea pig" so to speak, when it comes to trying new products and techniques. I truly am a self-made expert in the area. Unfortunately there is no "class" for men on how to look their best. Hey, maybe that's next for me! The first class for men on men's grooming! Men want to know what to do when it comes to their grooming, but didn't know where to find out until now!

Q. Where do you come from?

A. I am originally from New Jersey. However, I have lived in Los Angeles and New York as an adult.

Q. What is your own personal daily grooming procedure?

A. I do what I call in the book the "basic" regime! Keeping my skin clean and clear and my facial and body hair well groomed is where I focus. But of course I also eat healthily and exercise. I talk about which exercise I do in the book that also helps me to look and feel my best. You'd be surprised what it is.

Q. Have you written any other publications?

A. Along with having an interest in grooming, I am also a professional songwriter and have written songs that have been used in TV, movies and by recording artists. Writing Grooming Secrets For Men was something I was driven to do due to a lack of information in that area. I am always thinking of what my next book will be about!

Q. Do you give one-to-one grooming advice?

A. I used to do one-to-one grooming sessions and now on occasions I will do what I call a critique session. A "critique" session is where I spend about an hour with someone in which I critique someone's grooming habits as well as finding out about what diet and exercise habits they have. Then I show them what to do to improve their look and how to maintain it. However, since writing Grooming Secrets For Men all the techniques are there, so now all someone has to do is read the book to find out!

Q. What's the biggest single tip you can give on male grooming?

A. That's a great question. Choosing a single tip would not be the right way to answer this one. I would have to say when it comes to male grooming, remember the goal is to look YOUR best! Whether someone looks like the guy on the cover of GQ or not, is not what it's all about. It's about doing what you can to help yourself look the best you can. When you look your best you're more confident and it shows in all areas of your life.
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David got an easy to follow grooming techniques in his e-book “Grooming Secrets For Men”. Guys the e-book comes with 2 free e-books you might think a must have for your overall well being..haha...

The 2 free books are
1. Natural Skin Care For Men - Find out why you should use natural skin care and also find a complete directory of where to find it.
2. Health Is A Choice - Find out VERY important information on how to stay healthy for your entire life - get in on the latest information.
3. Self-Pleasuring Techniques For Men - Find out about some very unusual techniques on how to self-pleasure yourself to mind blowing orgasms!

GET HIS EBOOK HERE!

What your skincare products really are?

you put on your skin is absorbed through your skin. To be more precise, the skin absorbs approximately 60% of any substance applied to it. (Hence the success of trans-dermal skin patches prescribed by physicians to deliver medications.)

Unfortunately, most of the skin care products mass produced for the market today, even those claiming to be all natural, and/or botanically based, products, contain harsh, toxic and even possibly carcinogenic ingredients that actually contribute to disorders of the skin and accelerate the aging process.

There is a growing concern from consumers about the ingredients in the personal care products they use daily. In a recent study by the US General Accounting Office (GAO), 125 ingredients found in cosmetics are suspected of causing cancer. Twenty ingredients have been implicated in causing birth defects. Twenty ingredients may cause adverse neurological symptoms, such as headaches and convulsions. Most of these toxic chemicals are so inexpensive that they are used in extremely high concentrations in many personal care products. Read the label of your products - what's in it?

These toxic chemicals provide no benefits or nutrients to the skin. They are the inexpensive alternatives employed to achieve the "feel" or "slip" to the skin that occurs naturally using pure, nutritious, essential oils and vegetable oils. The chemicals used to replace the nutritious components are used in significant concentrations in most skin care products. Their only purpose is to increase the profit margins for the manufacturers. The health of the consumer is completely disregarded.

The trend for natural products is growing because the educated consumer is now demanding these for face and body care. Making the decision to use only natural and organic products is easy. Incorporating this decision into your everyday life is a must! It is offensive to see large numbers of chemically laden personal care products lining the shelves of natural health and food markets. Marketed as "natural", these products contain harmful synthetic chemicals; however, few of us have the time to peruse the ingredient lists of our moisturiser, deodorant, body lotion and any of the other products we apply daily. We trust that the products sold in these "natural health stores" are safe for the entire family, and so we believe the advertised claims on the bottles of shampoo, lotion, facial care, etc. If a product claims to be organic and/or natural, its ingredients should be easily recognisable as natural components. Also, the ingredients should be listed in descending order with the most prominent factors listed first. So once again, READ THE LABEL before you buy!

Nature offers all that is needed for healthy, radiant and beautiful skin, hair, etc. So buy as natural as you can and your body will thank you!

MAN! KNOW YOUR SCENT

Guys! for men-on-the-street like us I guess you share my sentiments when come to scents.

Thinking of smelling good for your dates or for whatever reasons, walking up to perfume counters we will be very intimidated with many brands, many types of scent. Cologne, Eau de tilette(EDT), Eau de parfum(EDP), Perfume Extract and etc...

Leaving aside those couture's and over-the-top people, for us it's kind of shocking to wander around the counters, testing one another bottles and yet can't make up ur mind what to pick right! might be not for you but it's true for me. Aha! and mind you, I won't know the fragrances well but I don't wanna get too a common scent that every Tom, Dick and Harry wearing them. You know what I mean? For example, like a certain CK perfumes.

Let's see what's the specialist gotta say about having the right scent for us, men.

A brand manager of Designer Fragrances revealed in URBAN MAN that men often waste their money by wearing fragrance incorrectly. I was smiling to myself when I read this. "Paring their perfume with aftershave, shower gel, soap or hair spray in different scents that obscures the main scent r even spawns a new, unpleasant smell!"

Guys, let's get the scent right and feeling good even smelling own self OK! read the conversation that URBAN put up for us.

Q: What is the right way to wear a fragrance?
A: The traditional way is to put a couple of drops on your hands and pat onto your neck. You can also dab or spray it on pulse behind the ears and knees and on the wrist. Stick to two sprays or dabs, max.

Q: Do I still have to wear deodorant?
A: A cologne can only mask body odour(BO), while deodorant prevents it. If you have BO, a deodorant should be an essential part of your personal hygiene regime. To prevent a clash of scents, use a scented deodorant from the same deodorant from the same fragrance line, or fragrance-free variety.

Q: How often should I reapply my scent?
A: About every five or six hours, but more often if you perspire a lot. One way to make cologne last longer is by layering it with a shower gel or soap, deodorant and after shape from the same range. It will create a subtle, yet lasting scent.

Q: Should I change my fragrance for day and night?
A: Lighter fragrances or Summer versions with citrus notes like bergamot and orange are better for daytime and hot climates. A woody, heavier scent containing wood and amber will stand out better in a smoky bar or crowded nightclub.

Q: What can I wear on a hot date?
A: Look for fragrances like DKNY Red Delicious which has sensual ingredients. Vanilla is said to encourage intimacy, ylang ylang has aphrodisiac properties and tuber rose can you make you feel heady and happy.

Q: Help! my cologne gives people a headache.
A: Change to a more subtle fragrance or use less. Instead of applying cologne to the neck area, bad some behind the knees-It's less likely to overpower people because the smell with waft upwards. If it's your colleagues who are complaining, a bowl of coffee beans on your desk helps absorb the scent.

Q: Find a scent that suits me?
A: Other than going to a fragrance counters for a sniff test, most brand hold workshops for customers.After finding out what is your current scents and life style, a fragrance consultant uses the information to select a range of perfumes for a blind test.

Q: Can I wear my girl friend's perfume?
A: Yes if it contains unisex notes like orange, lemon and begamot. Estee Lauder White Linen is targeted at women, but it's popular with men who like its clean, crisp notes. If you are worried about smelling "feminine", stick to perfumes with fewer floral or sweet noted and more musky qualities.

Q: Should I change my fragrance as I get older?
A: For a mature and serious vibe, try a spicy and woody cologne.If you prefer a youthful, vibrant image, choose a lighter cologne with more citrus notes.

Q: Should I wear scent every day, or just for a special occasions?
A: while people may not be able to tell when you are not wearing cologne, they probably can when you do.And if wearing a fragrance helps to lift your mood and help you feel good, why not make it a daily luxury.

* Cologne : The lightest type of scent, with concentration levels of 3 to 7 percent. Dab it on after a steamy shower. Last one or two hours.

* Eau de toilette (EDT) : Stronger concentration of 8 to 14 percent. Tips, squirt into the air ahead of you, walk through the mist for a clingy, subtle aroma. last two to four hours.

* Eau dee Parfum (EDP) : Splash on pulse points such as wrist or neck. Concentration : 15 to 18 percent. Lasts four to six hours.

* Perfume extract : The most intense concentration of 18 percent and above: pong at its most powerful. Dab it on a pulse point. Last six to twelve hours.

Care for your skin!

Guys! I am sure you agree..to look good dressing stylish outfits, designer labels alone won't help and you need to take care of your skin too right..

You go on the streets and look around..Some guys strike a very good balance and looking so cool though they are not that handsome. They look gorgeous because they work on their bodies. Because they take good care of their skins. They dress well.

On the other hand, we saw some that wear PRADA and expensive labels but they have dull skins and do not carry a cool clean look. Ya...guys what I wanna say it .."take care of your skins" before it's too late.

I am gonna start with simple skin care things and I pick up this tips from a store near Bugis. And some photos of what skincare products I keep in my wash rooms haha..

Just follow the simple tips and you will be amazed how you look afterwards..

AVERAGE JOE.....YUP! IT'S ME..

Yup! I am no fashionista nor a fashion victim but just an average Joe with average look. A commoner with no deep pocket to splurge on designer labels, high fashion..

And before I say anything you might get the hint that I want to look good in my own right.
C'mon! who the hell on earth would say "na.. na...I don't care how I look? Tell me my next door uncles did not try to match his pants and shirts? Not the least matching the colours of his attires? Did he went to the neighbourhood shop just pick any shirts or pants without looking at the prints, the sizes?, the colours? I bet! And yes say he selected the right size that might fit on him? The colour that might not work against him. So, do we still say he do not want to look good in his own way?

Why uncle? why not young punks in your classic example you might say! Yup intentionally! I just want to tell you that not just fashionistas, not just fabulous guys with million-bucks pockets wanna look good. Any Tom, Dick and Harry are knowingly or unknowingly want to look good. Don't deny it.

So what the heck I am talking about? Why title this post "Average Joe?" It is like this boys!

I have ou, my loyal readers who will like and will read whatever I write. And those gurus and seasoned fashionistas, stylists might stumble upon this blog by chance and some of them might have some negative impression on this blog or on my personality. They might go..."Yo! you mad man.. what do you know about style and fashion world? What authority do you have to write such couture's affairs associated only with finer class??

I am saying this not that I felt inferior or feel insecure but just understand the human nature. And it is inevitable I will encounter nasty remarks while getting cheers from you kind readers. So, I just want to make public that I am prepared to accept them and will continue to write and share what I know.
And you read them online or buy a fashion or style related magazines from news stands. What do we see? The revenue-minded or rather profit-driven magazines only put pricey stuffs on their pages and we could only drool and dream of owning a piece of them. Want to go on shopping spree after seeing them on glossy pages? don't even need to think twice that we couldn't. Oh ya.. if only we are prepared to part with our whole year salaries.

I realize something that actually there is no magazine in this world that have the readers' interest. No more the magazines that weigh the balance sheets and the informative, educative sheets. What the publishers have in mind? Revenues! Profits! Advertising Dollars! Getting their columnists get down the streets to discover the more affordable brands for ordinary folks? No way without $$$. No free Advertorial. Well what we can expect, since all these magazines are published by profit-oriented businessmen after all.

So why these magazines are still thriving if they just published those branded items that far beyond we commoners' reach? I can think of this. One, we couldn't buy the real merchandises so we bought magazines to day-dream dressing ourselves with those clothes we see on them. Or are we not the right audiences that these magazines are for?

Well! for me I will continue to read those not meant for me and working hard to afford those stuffs. They are pricey but they are really nice. A lot of hard works to create them. And I will share with you those who keen to know(Especially celebrities from my country who bought expensive stuffs but mismatched-dressing them and became bad dressers).

At the same time, I will try to feature affordable items that I see, I bought and those information that some readers sent to me.

And ya.. hopefully, those brands get wind of my blog and want me to write about their designs and take photos to feature them here.

And ya... take a look at my photos. The Loafer, the Polo and Jeans are less than $100. The most expensive stuff is the watch and that is also just about $ 150. Oh...no my Oakley Shade...Anyway ..Don't you think they are stylish too..? I went for lunch appointment with a lady friend with this attires on a hot sunny day.

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS!

Aha! guys wondering I am going to reveal some juicy encounters.

I am going to talk about our briefs, our underwears. Any men of my age, might be able to relate well and share the sentiments of "Brief Encounters". But you young dudes! If you are here reading my blog, I am sure you have an interest on styles. And you like to look best and good. So you might not be strangers to the brief-his-tory..ha ha
Guys! do my selection of all these hunks with almost-bared-all attires give you a ? mark in your mind?
Yup! we all have to agree these guys are cool right. Nice and toned bodies and I have been trying to get one unsuccessfully haha... But it's not my prior intention to post them for your eyes. Think Fashion. Think Style and of course if they're appealing to my readers, it's my pleasure haa..
I was going through all the designers' runway reviews for spring/summer 2007 and their colourful, fanciful briefs caught my attention.
Until recently, I just love pure white briefs with conventional cut and bought them all white. Hae hae.. yah... you are not wrong S$10 for a pack of 3. The most expensive pairs I own are CK and are white too.
Of course I see all sort of Briefs in Men's Underwear Section in Department Stores and those fashion Magazines I read. But personally never dare to wear the like of tong, G-strings nor never thought of paying heftily for a small piece of brief that no one would see under.
Unfortunately or fortunately, on Christmas last years, I was a lucky-draw winner of a hamper with assorted underwears. Tong, G-strings and ya... all cuts, all colours from a few labels.
Well since I got it free, I tried them all and kind of weird and yeah!!!! feeling sexy having them on me too haha. And boys I tell you! I never bought just white brief anymore from there on..
And seeing all these spring 2007 briefs, my mind travelled back to my teen and think about the briefs of that time.
As far as I could remember, all the men's and boy's briefs we had are Thailand made and they were never a fashion items. Pale colour fabrics with elasticity that can support your little brothers when you carry things or are running around. Ya,...I used briefs here but not underwear. For underwear, we did have local made pieces, boxer type. And the most common underwear is multi-functioned sport shorts. We removed our sarongs and left the sport shorts on when we are playing and put on the sarongs over the sport shorts again when going for outings.
And look at the briefs and trunks here guys! Who says the men don't get it. Women can't claimed anymore they are more previlaged when come to fashions and styles. The skincare products, now what the girls get? whe get it. Designer Labels? What we are we lacking? Spending Power? Na....... Our items are more expensive. So I am sure we spend more and hence there we have the spending power that marketers love.

And here..... underneath our clothes.. the colourful, the varieties.. the designers? They are more than what you can imagine of.... So.. stay stylish.. wear some sexy underpants, briefs and spice up your looks and haha...you will never know there is someone loving to see you in a sexy brief encounters....